8 locals named to D-4 district teams

Meigs’ Cody Bartrum named offensive player of the year

Meigs junior Cody Bartrum (2) passes over the head of lineman Nick Combs (55) during the Marauders 26-12 victory over Gallia Academy, on August 28 at Farmers Bank Stadium.

Alex Hawley/OVP Sports

ATHENS, Ohio — A total of six Marauders and two Blue Devils earned Associated Press all-district honors for their efforts on the gridiron this fall.

The 2015 Division IV Southeast District football team, as selected by a media panel from the district, consists of three local offensive players, two local defenders and three local special mention selections.

Meigs, which was 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division, received three offensive selections, one defensive spot and two special mentions.

MHS junior quarterback Cody Bartrum, who received a special mention spot in 2014, earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after completing 157-of-267 passes for 2,206 yards and 17 touchdowns. Bartrum also had nine scores and 418 yards on the ground this fall.

Joining Bartrum on the first team offense are Meigs senior wide receiver Colton Lilly and Meigs senior all-purpose player Kaileb Sheets. Lilly hauled in 52 passes for 809 yards and eight scores for the Maroon and Gold, while adding 52 yards and a score on the ground. Sheets, who was also a first team all purpose player as a sophomore, ran for 665 yards and a touchdown, while catching 56 passes for 720 yards and six scores.

The lone Marauders representative on the defensive side of the ball is senior defensive lineman Colton Atkinson, who had 69 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss.

Meigs senior linemen Nick Combs and Dalton Clark were both special mention for the Maroon and Gold. Combs had 36 tackles, 10.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks, while Clark had 32 tackles and six for a loss.

Gallia Academy — which was 1-9 overall this year, including 1-3 in the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League — earned one first teamer and one special mention.

GAHS senior Kole Carter was named first team linebacker, after recording 94 tackles, including 12 for a loss this year. Carter, who was a special mention in 2014, had 12 touchdowns and 931 yards passing this season, while rushing for 899 yards and nine scores.

Blue Devils senior Anthony Sipple, who was a first team offensive lineman in 2014, earned a special mention spot after recording 38 tackles this fall, including five sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss.

Logan Elm senior defensive back Stephen Saxton, who had 45 tackles and seven interceptions for the 6-4 Braves, was named Division IV Defensive Player of the Year, while no Coach of the Year was named in Division IV.